1 Introduction

This paper contains estimates for the effective reproduction number \(R_{t,m}\) over time \(t\) in various nations and other regions \(m\) of United Kingdom. This is done using the methodology as described in [1]. These have been implemented in R using EpiEstim package [2] which is what is used here. The methodolgy and assumptions are described in more detail here.

This paper and it’s results should be updated roughly daily and is available online.

As this paper is updated over time this section will summarise significant changes. The code producing this paper is tracked using Git. The Git commit hash for this project at the time of generating this paper was 93250506fb865d19eba938bb5e05c5bd5d133a89.

2 Data

Data is obtained [3]. This contains the daily cases, hospital admissions and deaths for United Kingdom by various geographies. Here the data is accessed by specimen date, admission date and date of death.

Once history is built up an allowance for rate reported cases, admissions and deaths will be made. For now the data is cut-off a week prior to the last case date in the data. All data prior to 1 March 2020 are removed.

3 Methodology

The methodology is described in detail here.

4 Results by Nation

4.1 Cases

Below we plot cumulative case count on a log scale by nation:

Cumulative Cases by Nation

Cumulative Cases by Nation

4.2 Admissions

Below we plot cumulative hospital admissions on a log scale.

Cumulative Admissions by Nation

Cumulative Admissions by Nation

4.3 Deaths

Below we plot the cumulative deaths by nation on a log scale:

Cumulative Deaths by Nation

Cumulative Deaths by Nation

4.4 Current \(R_{t,m}\) estimates by Nation

Below current (last weekly) \(R_{t,m}\) estimates are tabulated.

Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Nation
Nation Estimate Type Count (Last Week) Week Ending R - Lower CI R - Mean R - Uppper CI
England cases 148,469 2020-12-15 1.3 1.4 1.5
England admissions 11,168 2020-12-15 1.1 1.1 1.2
England deaths 2,511 2020-12-15 1.0 1.0 1.0
Northern Ireland cases 3,430 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.1
Northern Ireland admissions 238 2020-12-15 0.9 1.0 1.1
Northern Ireland deaths 53 2020-12-15 0.6 0.8 1.0
Scotland cases 6,301 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.1
Scotland admissions 458 2020-12-15 0.8 0.9 1.0
Scotland deaths 171 2020-12-15 0.8 1.0 1.1
Wales cases 19,895 2020-12-15 1.2 1.3 1.4
Wales admissions 619 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.2
Wales deaths 194 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.3
Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Nation

Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Nation

4.5 Maps of Effective Reproduction Number

Below we plot the current effective reproduction number on maps with boundaries provided by [4].

4.5.1 Cases

4.5.2 Admissions

4.5.3 Deaths

4.6 Graphs over Time

Below we plot results for each nation We filter out weeks where the upper end of confidence interval for \(R_{t,m}\) exceeds 4.

4.6.1 England

4.6.2 Northern Ireland

4.6.3 Scotland

4.6.4 Wales

5 Results by Region

5.1 Cases

Below we plot cumulative case count on a log scale by region:

Cumulative Cases by Region

Cumulative Cases by Region

5.2 Deaths

Below we plot the cumulative deaths by region on a log scale:

Cumulative Deaths by Region

Cumulative Deaths by Region

5.3 Current \(R_{t,m}\) estimates by Region

Below current (last weekly) \(R_{t,m}\) estimates are tabulated.

Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Region
Region Estimate Type Count (Last Week) Week Ending R - Lower CI R - Mean R - Uppper CI
Northern Ireland cases 3,430 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.1
Northern Ireland deaths 53 2020-12-15 0.6 0.8 1.0
Scotland cases 6,301 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.1
Scotland deaths 171 2020-12-15 0.8 1.0 1.1
Wales cases 19,895 2020-12-15 1.2 1.3 1.4
Wales deaths 194 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.3
East Midlands cases 10,098 2020-12-15 1.1 1.2 1.2
East Midlands deaths 296 2020-12-15 0.9 1.0 1.1
East of England cases 20,994 2020-12-15 1.5 1.6 1.8
East of England deaths 242 2020-12-15 1.0 1.2 1.3
London cases 42,119 2020-12-15 1.6 1.7 1.9
London deaths 221 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.2
North East cases 4,738 2020-12-15 1.1 1.1 1.1
North East deaths 134 2020-12-15 0.7 0.9 1.0
North West cases 11,806 2020-12-15 1.1 1.1 1.2
North West deaths 354 2020-12-15 0.8 0.9 1.0
South East cases 29,836 2020-12-15 1.4 1.5 1.6
South East deaths 392 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.3
South West cases 6,449 2020-12-15 1.2 1.3 1.4
South West deaths 180 2020-12-15 0.9 1.0 1.2
West Midlands cases 12,339 2020-12-15 1.1 1.2 1.2
West Midlands deaths 337 2020-12-15 0.8 0.9 1.0
Yorkshire and The Humber cases 8,969 2020-12-15 1.1 1.1 1.1
Yorkshire and The Humber deaths 303 2020-12-15 0.8 0.9 1.0
Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Region

Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Region

5.4 Maps of Effective Reproduction Number

Below we plot the current effective reproduction number on maps with boundaries provided by [5].

5.4.1 Cases

5.4.2 Deaths

5.5 Graphs over Time

Below we plot results for each nation We filter out weeks where the upper end of confidence interval for \(R_{t,m}\) exceeds 4.

5.5.1 Northern Ireland

5.5.2 Scotland

5.5.3 Wales

5.5.4 East Midlands

5.5.5 East of England

5.5.6 London

5.5.7 North East

5.5.8 North West

5.5.9 South East

5.5.10 South West

5.5.11 West Midlands

5.5.12 Yorkshire and The Humber

6 Results by NHS Region

6.1 Current \(R_{t,m}\) estimates by Region

Below current (last weekly) \(R_{t,m}\) estimates are tabulated.

Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Region
Region Estimate Type Count (Last Week) Week Ending R - Lower CI R - Mean R - Uppper CI
Northern Ireland admissions 238 2020-12-15 0.9 1.0 1.1
Scotland admissions 458 2020-12-15 0.8 0.9 1.0
Wales admissions 619 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.2
East of England admissions 1,247 2020-12-15 1.2 1.2 1.3
London admissions 1,917 2020-12-15 1.3 1.4 1.5
North West admissions 1,288 2020-12-15 0.9 1.0 1.0
South East admissions 1,766 2020-12-15 1.1 1.2 1.3
South West admissions 796 2020-12-15 1.1 1.2 1.3
Midlands admissions 2,377 2020-12-15 1.0 1.0 1.1
North East and Yorkshire admissions 1,777 2020-12-15 1.0 1.1 1.1
Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Region

Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Region

6.2 Maps of Effective Reproduction Number

Below we plot the current effective reproduction number on maps with boundaries provided by [6].

6.3 Graphs over Time

Below we plot results for each nation We filter out weeks where the upper end of confidence interval for \(R_{t,m}\) exceeds 4.

6.3.1 East of England

6.3.2 London

6.3.3 Midlands

6.3.4 North East and Yorkshire

6.3.5 North West

6.3.6 South East

6.3.7 South West

7 Results by Upper Tier Local Authority

7.1 Highest \(R_{t,m}\) as estimated using cases

Below we plot Upper Tier Local Authorities with the hghest reproduction numbers (providing they had at least 100 cases):

## Selecting by Rt_ui_95
Estimated Effective Reproduction Number by Upper Tier Local Authority
Upper Tier Local Authority Estimate Type Count (Last Week) Week Ending R - Lower CI R - Mean R - Uppper CI
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly cases 311 2020-12-15 1.9 2.3 2.7
Thurrock cases 1,692 2020-12-15 1.8 2.1 2.4
Wandsworth cases 1,299 2020-12-15 1.7 1.9 2.2
Islington cases 909 2020-12-15 1.7 1.9 2.2
Richmond upon Thames cases 628 2020-12-15 1.6 1.9 2.2
Lewisham cases 1,270 2020-12-15 1.7 1.9 2.2
Lambeth cases 1,334 2020-12-15 1.7 1.9 2.2
Westminster cases 681 2020-12-15 1.7 1.9 2.2
East Sussex cases 1,974 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.1
Brighton and Hove cases 461 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.1
Hammersmith and Fulham cases 597 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.1
West Berkshire cases 389 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.1
Croydon cases 1,730 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.0
Redbridge cases 2,430 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.0
Kensington and Chelsea cases 421 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.0
Southwark cases 1,184 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 2.0
Southend-on-Sea cases 1,071 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 1.9
Hackney and City of London cases 1,356 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 1.9
Bexley cases 1,602 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 1.9
Haringey cases 1,272 2020-12-15 1.6 1.8 1.9
Bedford cases 599 2020-12-15 1.5 1.7 2.0
Camden cases 711 2020-12-15 1.5 1.7 2.0
Barnet cases 1,499 2020-12-15 1.6 1.7 1.9
Sutton cases 928 2020-12-15 1.5 1.7 1.9
Enfield cases 2,183 2020-12-15 1.5 1.7 1.9

7.2 Map of Effective Reproduction Number (Cases)

Below we plot the current effective reproduction number estimated from case data on maps with boundaries provided by [7].

7.3 Map over by week since start of the year (experimental)

Below the reproduction number by week for each Upper Tier Local Authority is animated:

8 Detailed Results

Detailed output are saved to a comma-separated value file. The file can be found here.

9 Discussion

Limitation of this method to estimate \(R_{t,m}\) are noted in [1]

  • It’s sensitive to changes in transmissibility, changes in contact patterns, depletion of the susceptible population and control measures.
  • It relies on an assumed generation interval assumptions.
  • The size of the time window can affect the volatility of results.
  • Results are time lagged with regards to true infection, more so in the case of the use of deaths.
  • It’s sensitive to changes in case (or death) detection.
  • The generation interval may change over time.

Further to the above the estimates are made under assumption that the cases and deaths are reported consistently over time. For cases this means that testing needs to be at similar levels and reported with similar lag. Should these change rapidly over an interval of a few weeks the above estimates of the effective reproduction numbers would be biased. For example a rapid expansion of testing over the last 3 weeks would results in overestimating recent effective reproduction numbers. Similarly any changes in reporting (over time and underreporting) of deaths would also bias estimates of the reproduction number estimated using deaths. It may well be that some catch-up in reported deaths is exaggerating the estimates for October.

Estimates for the reproduction number are plotted in time period in which the relevant measure is recorded. Though in reality the infections giving rise to those estimates would have occurred roughly between a week to 4 weeks earlier depending on whether it was cases or deaths. These figures have not been shifted back.

Despite these limitation we believe the ease of calculation of this method and the ability to use multiple sources makes it useful as a monitoring tool.

Having said all the above it would appear that the effective reproduction number was reasonably high in United Kingdom from middle April to middle July. From middle July the figures seems to have decreased well below 1. However since middle September figures have been near 1 and in October these seem to have shifted above 1.

10 Author

This report was prepared by Louis Rossouw. Please get in contact with Louis Rossouw if you have comments or wish to receive this regularly.

Louis Rossouw
Head of Research & Analytics
Gen Re | Life/Health Canada, South Africa, Australia, NZ, UK & Ireland
Email: LRossouw@GenRe.com Mobile: +27 71 355 2550

The views in this document represents that of the author and may not represent those of Gen Re. Also note that given the significant uncertainty involved with the parameters, data and methodology care should be taken with these numbers and any use of these numbers.

11 Digital boundaries

Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2020

References

[1] A. Cori, N. M. Ferguson, C. Fraser, and S. Cauchemez, “A new framework and software to estimate time-varying reproduction numbers during epidemics,” American Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 178, no. 9, pp. 1505–1512, Sep. 2013, doi: 10.1093/aje/kwt133. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt133

[2] A. Cori, EpiEstim: A package to estimate time varying reproduction numbers from epidemic curves. 2013 [Online]. Available: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=EpiEstim

[3] Office for National Statistics, “Official UK Coronavirus Dashboard,” 2020. [Online]. Available: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk. [Accessed: 07-Nov-2020]

[4] Office for National Statistics, “Countries (December 2019) Boundaries UK BUC,” 09-Oct-2017. [Online]. Available: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/search?collection=Dataset. [Accessed: 07-Nov-2020]

[5] Office for National Statistics, “NUTS Level 1 (January 2018) Ultra Generalised Clipped Boundaries in the United Kingdom,” 31-Jul-2017. [Online]. Available: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/nuts-level-1-january-2018-ultra-generalised-clipped-boundaries-in-the-united-kingdom. [Accessed: 07-Nov-2020]

[6] Office for National Statistics, “NHS England Regions (April 2020) Boundaries EN BUC,” 13-May-2020. [Online]. Available: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/search?collection=Dataset. [Accessed: 07-Nov-2020]

[7] Office for National Statistics, “Counties and Unitary Authorities (December 2019) Boundaries UK BUC,” 11-Mar-2020. [Online]. Available: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/counties-and-unitary-authorities-december-2019-boundaries-uk-buc. [Accessed: 07-Nov-2020]